Easthampton police: Heavy rain caused motorist to lose sight of roadway, crash into home on Route 141 near Mount Tom

EASTHAMPTON -- An out-of-state driver who lost sight of the roadway due to a burst of heavy rain Sunday afternoon crashed into a home near the base of Mount Tom on Route 141.

Five occupants of the vehicle were taken to a hospital. However, the crash occurred at a relatively low speed and there were no serious injuries, Police Chief Bruce McMahon said.

The accident, which damaged a home at 166 Holyoke St., was reported shortly after 4 p.m. as a line of thunderstorms moved through the region.

The driver, a New Jersey woman, "could not see the road; she thought she was following the road and ended up crashing into the house,” McMahon said, adding that the woman was not familiar with the area.

The home, near the corner of Hendrick Street, is not believed to have been substantially damaged, McMahon said.